Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerThe Mental Health Association in New Jersey and the NJ chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence hold their Walk for Wellness and Recovery is this Sunday, at 10 am in Johnson Park in Piscataway. The 5K walk is a fundraiser to raise awareness of the importance of recovery from mental illness and substance abuse.

PISCATAWAY — Cindy Walters of Toms River used to suffer from a combination of alcoholism, drug addiction and clinical depression.

Walters, 51, a mother of five, said she became homeless, "reached the end of my rope" and tried to commit suicide.

"I was raised in an alcoholic and drug home and that was the only way I knew," she said.

But after six years of participating in a day program and a support group and getting psychiatric treatment, she was rehabilitated to the point that she was able to get job training and now works for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey as a "certified peer specialist."

"They opened up a side of me to help others," she said, noting she has reunited with her family and enjoys visiting with her "two beautiful grandsons."

Walters was among 350 people who turned out in the rain yesterday morning for a 5K Walk in Johnson Park in Piscataway to benefit the Mental Health Association, an advocacy group for mental health services.

The advocacy theme for this year’s walk was "the need to treat people for both mental health and substance abuse," said Carolyn Beauchamp, the association’s president and chief executive officer. Clinicians need to be "cross-trained" in both areas because so many patients have both problems, she said.

Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgeThe goal this year was to raise $40,000 but organizers estimate that they will raise closer to $35,000 from today's turnout.

Although the weather kept the turnout below the hoped-for 400 — which was last year’s number — organizers still expect to raise $35,000 for the organization, said Bob Martin, director of development for the association. Last year, the group also raised $35,000, but it had hoped to increase the amount to $40,000 this year.

"Surprisingly with the weather, it worked out well. We thought it was going to be a monsoon," Martin said.

When the walkers departed around 10 a.m., they faced only a slight drizzle. As luck would have it, the heavy rain didn’t hit until the walkers returned around 11:30. They had to huddle in ponchos when organizers handed out prizes.

Among those enthusiastic walkers was Margaret Upchurch of Seaside, who was suffering from a "major depressive disorder" when she became homeless just a year ago. She checked into a social services office and had a nervous breakdown while in the office.

A self-help center in Ocean County, run by the Mental Health Association, "helped me find a place to live" and also got her a lawyer who helped her file for bankruptcy.

Back on her feet now "with an apartment and a cat," Upchurch thanked the Mental Health Association for "saving my life."

"My family didn’t want to have anything to do with me," she said, but now one of her sons lives with her.

Emily Grossman, 34, of Montclair said she underwent several years of therapy to help control her bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by extreme mood swings.

Grossman, who was diagnosed when she was an 18-year-old undergraduate at Rutgers University, said a key factor in her recovery was the mental health association’s work in helping her launch a new career as a life coach. Now she helps others follow her footsteps and embark on new jobs or additional education.

"Having work really helps," she said. "It’s important to have a purpose."